With a rapidly changing housing market and soaring mortgage rates, many people are questioning if now is the right time to buy. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Isabel Barrow explore that question by dissecting today’s housing climate and weighing in on the factors you need to consider before buying a home. Then, they talk to Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of Realtors,...

These days, fewer students are enrolling in colleges and the ones who enroll are graduating at lower rates. And with the cost of college on the rise, many people are asking if it’s worth it. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean is joined by wealth planner Andy Smith to talk about college savings options, such as 529 plans, and alternatives to a traditional college education. Later, Jean and Andy talk to Ryan Craig, managing director at Achieve Partners, and...

When it comes to making plans for retirement, many people focus their time and energy on the financial aspects – investments, taxes, insurance, estate plans, health care and more. But what about the psychological impact of retiring? In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planners Isabel Barrow and Andy Smith explore the stressors of retirement and what you can do to help reduce stress and live the comfortable retirement you deserve. Then, Dr. Riley...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of every 36 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean is joined by wealth planner Isabel Barrow and a director of estate planning Erin Smith, to detail the financial and legal challenges that families of children with special needs face and discuss options to consider to help navigate them. Later in the episode, Jean talks to Gordon Hartman, the...

This episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™ is, as Jean describes it, “everything you ever needed to know about insurance but didn’t know enough to ask.” Jean is joined by wealth planner Isabel Barrow and insurance expert Rob Bain from Edelman Financial Engines, to break down which policies you should have, like long-term care, life insurance and disability. And which ones you probably don’t need. They also cover lesser-known policies, like umbrella insurance, and bust a few...

One of the most important aspects of a relationship is honesty, especially when it comes to money. That’s because being honest about your finances can lead to a new type of affection – financial intimacy. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean is joined by wealth planners Isabel Barrow and Andy Smith to talk about all the ways a planner can help couples overcome challenges, improve communication and create intimacy. Later in the episode, Kathleen Burns Kingsbury,...

Summer is in full swing and this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™ is filled with advice on how to help maximize your summer vacation, fun budget and wealth. From travel hotspots to home renovations that can give you the best return on investment, Jean and wealth planner Andy Smith talk about how to make the most of your summer without breaking the bank. Later in the episode, Emily Kaufman – aka The Travel Mom – joins Jean and Andy to discuss current trends, like...

Why would you hire a financial planner? In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean is joined by wealth planner Andy Smith to discuss the known and lesser-known reasons. From getting married and having a baby to divorce and retirement, learn how a planner can help you. Then, Jean interviews Ryan Frederick, the founder and CEO of Here (Formerly Smart Living 360), about how to help improve your lifespan, health span and wealth span.   Ms. Chatzky receives cash...

Whether you are considering retiring, unretiring or changing jobs, deciding what to do with the money in your 401k is a big decision. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, wealth planner Isabel Barrow joins Jean to discuss your options and the pros and cons of each. Then, Jessica DeBold, director of advanced planning strategies and tools at Edelman Financial Engines, gives insight into potential ways to implement a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy to generate income...

With the recent firestorm in the news claiming the U.S. dollar is losing its status as the world’s primary reserve currency, many people are questioning their investments. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Andy Smith talk about where the dollar stands on a global scale and why there’s no need to panic. Later, Neil Gilfedder, chief investment officer of Edelman Financial Engines, joins the discussion to shed light on what’s really going on...

Now more than ever, your financial life is deeply connected to your everyday life. To explore how Americans define wealth in the context of the world around them, Edelman Financial Engines partnered with Greenwald Research to examine critical topics that sit squarely at the intersection of life and money, such as family relationships, retirement goals and wealth transfer. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean talks with Jason Van de Loo, executive vice president...

When approaching retirement, there are many big questions you must answer. One of the most important is how do you create reliable income from your savings and investments without running out of money? For an increasing number of people, this means including annuities as part of a retirement income plan. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Isabel Barrow define what annuities are and if they’re right for everyone. Then, Kelly O’Donnell,...

May is National Nurses Month, and this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™ is all about health care. Jean and Erin Smith, the director of estate planning at Edelman Financial Engines, answer an email from a nurse who wants clarity on naming a health care power of attorney. Then, Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Isabel Barrow joins Jean to break down different options for health care coverage, including Medicare, and ways a financial planner can help reduce costs....

Buying insurance can be confusing, but it’s an important process to help protect yourself and your loved ones. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Andy Smith discuss how to determine how much life insurance you may need using a simple formula. They also dive into disability insurance and the types of policies and costs associated with it. Later, Robert Bain, the insurance senior manager at Edelman Financial Engines, joins the podcast to...

You spent your lifetime working hard, diligently saving and investing money to secure your financial future. But when it’s time for retirement, how do you schedule your income in a way that preserves your wealth as long as you need it to? The right strategy can help you manage taxes and maintain the standard of living you’ve been planning for. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Isabel Barrow discuss the potential risks to your retirement...

Along with retirement plans at your workplace like a 401(k) or 403(b), IRAs have become the cornerstone of modern retirement. There are two types of IRAs - traditional and Roth - and the goals of these two accounts are similar - save for and fund your retirement - but they differ in some important ways. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean breaks down what those differences are and how a backdoor Roth may be a valuable tool to help with estate planning and...

Even though 2 out of 3 people believe you should have a will by age 55 or sooner, less than half of people 55 or older actually have one, according to Caring.com’s 2023 Wills Survey. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Isabel Barrow discuss why it's essential to have plans in place in order to pass on your wealth and legacy to the next generation and some common pitfalls to avoid. Later in the episode, Jean and Isabel answer an email from a...

Over the last decade, because of the zero interest rate policy set by the Federal Reserve, you weren't paid anything to hold cash since ZIRP ensured cash yielded essentially nothing. In fact, after subtracting for inflation, you were losing money if you held cash, hence the phrase – cash is trash. But with the Fed increasing short-term interest rates over the last 12 months and yields on cash-equivalent investments as high as they’ve been in more than a decade, is cash king again? In this...

Unfortunately, the end of some pandemic-era tax breaks is likely the beginning of tax hikes over the next few years. The big reason is because the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act begins sunsetting next year and many of its provisions are scheduled to expire in 2025. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean is joined by wealth planner Isabel Barrow to explore who may face tax increases and to share 11 strategies to start using right now to help reduce your tax burden in the...

Single people face a unique set of challenges when it comes to financial planning. Jean is joined by wealth planner Rose Niang in this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, to discuss those challenges, including health care, emergency funds and retirement planning, and how to help navigate them. Later in the episode, Erin Smith, director of estate planning at Edelman Financial Engines, joins the conversation to explain the biggest considerations that single people have to...

You work hard saving and investing most of your adult life so that you can have the retirement of your dreams, but there are financial risks that could derail your plans. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Rose Niang explain what those risks are and how to help protect your retirement. Then, Jean is joined by Dr. Ken Dychtwald, the country's foremost expert on aging and author of 19 books on the subject, including his memoir, Radical...

When it comes to claiming Social Security benefits, there are many questions with no easy answers. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean is joined by wealth planner Andy Smith to help break down how to get the most out of Social Security and when might be the best time to claim. Later in the episode, Jean interviews Marcia Mantell, author of What's the Deal with Social Security for Women? and Cooking Up Your Retirement Plan, about how claiming is a critical...

Divorce rates have been steadily declining since the ‘90s for all age groups except for one – the baby boomers. This phenomenon of rising rates is referred to as gray divorce, and one of the main reasons for the rise is financial differences. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planners Andy Smith and Isabel Barrow explore what these financial differences are, including financial infidelity, and how a planner can help.   Ms. Chatzky receives cash...

The filing deadline to submit 2022 tax returns or an extension and pay taxes owed is Tuesday, April 18 and along with some important changes that you need to know about, there are also tax strategies you can still use to potentially help reduce your taxes. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean is joined by wealth planner Andy Smith to discuss last-minute tax tips to help you through this tax season. Later in the episode, Jean and Andy answer an email from a...

Despite the many reasons to get help from a financial advisor – especially in today’s climate – only 35% currently work with a financial professional. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Isabel Barrow talk to a listener who wants to choose the right financial advisor after going through a litigious divorce. Later in the episode, Jean and Isabel discuss considerations to make when you’re looking for a wealth planner and questions to ask to...